Random Access Preamble Design for 6G Satellite–Terrestrial Integrated Communication Systems

Satellite-terrestrial integrated communication systems (STICSs) are envisioned to provide ubiquitous, seamless connectivity in next-generation (6G) wireless communication networks for massive-scale Internet of Things (IoT) deployments. This global coverage extends beyond densely populated areas to remote regions (e.g., polar zones, open oceans, deserts) and disaster-prone areas, supporting diverse IoT applications, including remote sensing, smart cities, intelligent agriculture/forestry, environmental monitoring, and emergency reporting. Random access signals, which constitute the initial transmission from access IoT devices to base station for unscheduled transmissions or network entry in terrestrial networks (TNs), encounter significant challenges in STICSs due to inherent satellite characteristics: wide coverage, large-scale access, substantial round-trip delay, and high carrier frequency offset (CFO). Consequently, conventional TN preamble designs based on Zadoff-Chu (ZC) sequences, as used in 4G LTE and 5G NR systems, are unsuitable for direct deployment in 6G STICSs. This paper first analyzes the challenges in adapting terrestrial designs to STICSs. It then proposes a CFO-resistant preamble design specifically tailored for STICSs and details its detection procedure. Furthermore, a dedicated root set selection algorithm for the proposed preambles is presented, generating an expanded pool of random access signals to meet the demands of increasing IoT device access. The developed analytical framework provides a foundation for performance analysis of random access signals in 6G STICSs.